Error in night prayer times calculation

VerdiMario

Assalamu 'alaykum,

Basically i was checking prayer times with the api http://api.aladhan.com/ and i noticed that midnight and thirds of nights are calculated from ~~ishaa~~ and not from maghrib prayer time, I think this is an error.. I also asked a scholar and checked some resources to be sure.

example:
{ "code":200, "status":"OK", "data": {"timings":{"Fajr":"04:08","Sunrise":"05:36","Dhuhr":"13:26","Asr":"17:36","Sunset":"21:16","Maghrib":"21:16","Isha":"22:44","Imsak":"03:58","Midnight":"01:26","Firstthird":"00:03","Lastthird":"02:50" },

As you can see Midnight (01:26) is calculated as the midpoint between Isha (22:44) and Fajr (04:08), and the same thing with 1st/3 and 3rd/3. I have been suggested that this can dipend on time calculation method but i think it's genuine mistake, can you please check?

Shukran

meezaan

VerdiMario That's now how it is calculated.

The calculation can be seen @ https://1x.ax/islamic-network/libraries/prayer-times/~files/8e1bff8ae049dc1dca31a4c02ba5cc8204e1aa88/src/PrayerTimes/PrayerTimes.php?position=source-266.18-266.23-1.

As you can see there is a different calculation for the Ithna Ashari method and different for all the others.

Also see https://praytimes.org/wiki/Prayer_Times_Calculation#Midnight.

VerdiMario

meezaan Thank you for your prompt reply and the two references,

https://praytimes.org/wiki/Prayer_Times_Calculation#Midnight

I think there are some mistakes, also in sunni madhabs the references to calculate the total length of the night are sunset and fajr prayer.
In our app we can easily correct it, but generally speaking the api is giving wrong values..

meezaan

VerdiMario Thank you for your feedback.

Do you have any published references to substantiate this calculation for sunset and fajr?

Generally speaking is not good enough, because usually 'general' does not mean anything is right or wrong. Consensus does define validity, even if it does constitute acceptance of or by the majority in these modern times.

I'm happy to make any updates, but if we're going to say something is wrong and fix it, we'll need to go with something official.

VerdiMario

meezaan I will ask some scholars and try to collect all references from all 4 madhabs and update you as soon as possible in shaa Allah. (let this discussion open I will share my findings within few months in shaa Allah).

Tank you for your efforts.